3 responses to “For those who may be wondering …”

Fr. John Corapi has been suspended from priestly functions because of an accusation against him from a former employee. There seems to be a great deal of speculation and confusion regarding what this entails.

When an accusation arrives at the desk of a Religious Superior or a bishop, the procedure calls for a quick, confidential assessment as to the veracity of the accusation. With the advent of the Dallas Procedural Norms the necessary pieces of information required before imposing administrative leave varies from diocese to diocese and Order to Order. In most cases, if an accuser knows the name of the priest, the location at the time of the alleged incident and the year the priest was serving, the accusation is considered “credible.” The accused is supposed to be provided with the opportunity to respond to the accusations in a face-to-face meeting with his Superior prior to the imposition of suspension or administrative leave. In Father Corapi’s case, this never happened.

When a priest is on administrative leave he is to refrain from any public actions as a priest, such as offering Mass or hearing confessions, or from dressing as a priest in any public forum. The decree from his superiors clearly spells out limitations upon Fr. Corapi, but does not preclude him from speaking publicly provided he does not dress as a cleric and does not offer Mass publicly. Fr. John Corapi has observed these directives. Church bodies are to observe these limitations, though the order does not apply to lay organizations or Church organizations beyond the scope of what has been decreed.

Several Catholic media sources have removed Fr. Corapi from their outlets. This is over and above what is required by canon law and the Dallas Norms. Nothing in the order placing Father Corapi on administrative leave precludes distribution of previously recorded materials. Santa Cruz Media is in full compliance with Canon Law and the administrative leave under which Fr. Corapi is functioning.

Fr. Corapi is doing all in his power to cooperate and work with his Religious Society to see that this allegation is quickly cleared up and he is allowed to return to full ministry. The length of this administrative leave is strictly up to the Society and their process of inquiry before a decision is rendered.

We continue to ask everyone to pray for Fr. Corapi, for the accuser and for a quick resolution to this matter.

Does the end justify the means?
To directly or indirectly destroy an innocent person’s reputation in such a way is always wrong, evil and a sin which beckons the question, does the end justify the means? The church’s moral teaching has always said you can’t do an evil act for a good end. Therefore to allow any person’s reputation to be mortally damaged based on accusations that are not credible is eternally incompatible with our faith. The “just in case” defense has no moral authority here. Given that harboring guilty priest in serious offenses or anyone will always be a grievous event, though we have now gone to the other extreme and it needs to be avoided as well for we have a duty to protect the innocent, not even if they are a priest, but most especially.

Are the allegations credible? Two witness saying contrary:
“There is no evidence at this time that Father Corapi did anything wrong, only the unsubstantiated rant of a former employee, who, after losing her job with this office, physically assaulted me and another employee and promised to destroy Father Corapi,” Ruffatto said.

Lastly, I think many missed the point of the outrage. Forget that it’s Father Corapi who was slandered because it could have been you!

When GOD in JESUS name sends the big guns in.Those men who are not preists,themselves,but loyal to the preists of Jesus Christ in the HOLY GHOST.These men not able to be preists for the cross they bare.Who bare cross unseen by world or church.Faithful cross bearers.Unseen by Holy Spirit will assist our poor preists who the enemy desires to bind.